Key Stage 2 notes and downloads

Introduction to KS2 activities

To capture the imaginations of this age group these activities are based around exploration. Through engaging in the trails and hunts children will become familiar with the natural environment and how everyone can help to care for our natural habitats. As a local nature reserve we also encourage an awareness of history connecting children to their local heritage of coal mining.

The purpose of each activity is given in broad terms. This allows teachers to make specific curriculum links relevant to their class. We have given some links to activities available on the internet and some of these provide more detailed curriculum outcomes. Teachers may want to download and use these resources when they visit or use them for follow up activities back in the classroom.

We hope a visit to the nature reserve using one of our activities will inspire children and give them something to remember.

We recommend that you build in time for children to experience the reserve fully. For example, looking at sticky buds on a horse chestnut tree might lead to searching beneath the tree for empty conker shells, and then the discovery of snowdrops peeking through the decaying leaves or the feel of the bark of the tree. Rushing on to find the next item on a worksheet may mean the children don’t have time to really know what it is to stand under an ancient tree and wonder.

We hope you will use our nature reserve to support the curriculum and to extend children’s experiences of the natural environment. A visit to the nature reserve may even lead children to a lifelong interest in conservation. We believe children will benefit from regular visits throughout the year so that they become aware of seasonal changes and life cycles.

Activity Downloads

Designed specifically as an educational resource, these downloadable Activity Sheets can be applied in many educational outdoor environments, not just at Clara Vale. Whilst provided freely, we hope you will consider a donation to support our cause.